Heel construction



Feb. 13, 1940. J. H. M GILL HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 9, 1937 I soPatented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENT. OFFICE-1..

-HEEL CONSTRUCTION J John H. McGill, Winchester, Mass., assignor to B.B. Chemical 00., Boston,

tion of Massachusetts Mass., a corpora- Application August 9, 1937,Ser'ial No. 158,016-

1 Claim. (01. 336-42) This invention relates to shoe heels and moreparticularly to heel constructions embodying detachable leather toplifts.

An object of this invention is to provide a heel construction embodyinga detachable leather top lift which may be readily removed after it hasbecome worn, A further object is to provide a" heel constructionembodying a detachable leather top lift arrangedto exhibit a uniformlygood' appearance throughout the life of the lift.

In accordance with the above and other objects we have providedbythepresent invention a heel construction embodying a detachable leather toplift wherein at least the flesh side of the lift contiguous tothe loweror lift-receiving surface of a wood heel is hardened or stiffenedby'incorporating in the leather molten thermoplastic material selectedfrom the group of substances consistingof waxes and resins. Theimpregnation by the molten wax or resin or mixture there of preferablytakes place on the flesh side of a leather lift and may extend to anydesired extent therefrom. The impregnation advantageously may take placefrom the edges as well as the flesh side of the lift. In certain casesimpregnation of the lift may take place from all the surfaces thereofincluding the grain sid'e. Leather top lifts treated in the mannerdescribed are hardened and stiffened on the flesh side of the lift so asto provide an' excellent bearing surface for a tool inserted between thelift and the heel in removing a worn lift for replacement. Moreover,portions of the lift impregnated with the molten wax or resin exhibitsubstantial resistance to fraying when subjected to wear.

Lifts so treated readily may be finished with the usual leather finishesand exhibit an excellent appearance. Furthermore, the portionsof a lifttreated with the molten wax or resin exhibit a considerably greaterresistance to the detanning and disintegrating action of water thanlifts not so treated. Generally speaking, in the heel constructioncontemplated by this invention, except for the hardening and stiffeningaction of the molten wax or resin, leather top lifts exhibit the generalcharacteristics. of leather.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a treated leather top lift secured to apost;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating theimproved heel construction of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a detachable top lift andadjacent portions of a wood heel illustrating the impregnation of theonly of the lift with molten wax or resinfrom the flesh side lift and toa relatively slight extent; and g 1 Fig.4 is a fragmentaryverticalsection similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a. relatively deepimpregnation of the top lift from the flesh side with molten wax orresin.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 there isshown a shoe 2 to which is secured a wood'heel 5. Thewood heel i is pro;vided with a receiving socket 6 lined with a metallic sleeve 8. Arrangedto be held by friction or other means within the receiving socket 6 andsleeve 8 is the post ll! provided with prongs vI l which. extend. intothe substance of the leather toplift i2 and aretupset therein to providea I mechanical attachment of the post Ill to .said

lift 12, the upper or flesh. side I l and edges 15 .of which lift havebeen impregnated with molten wax or resin to render the same relativelystiff and hard but otherwise retaining essentially the characteristicsof leather. extends downwardly side l6 of the lift I2.

I In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the wax :or resin I1 is shown asimpregnating the lift I8 only from the upper or flesh side 20 thereofand merely to a slight extent.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the Wax or resin 11 is shown asimpregnating the lift 22 from the upper or flesh side 24 thereof to anextent closely approaching the lower or grain side 26 thereof wherebythe edges 28 are also imtoward the grain orlower .preg'nated to asubstantial extent.

In all of theabove cases the prongs H of the post in readily may beincorporated in the substance of the impregnated top lifts andupsettherein to providea secure anchorage. i This is due to the fact-thatexcept for the hardening and stiffening eifect' of the impregnatedmolten wax or resin the lifts retain the essential properties ofleather.

In view of the fact that the upper or flesh sides of the top liftsremain firm and hard throughout the life of the lifts, there is providedin all of the modifications of top lifts illustrated a firm'bearingsurface for the insertion of a tool between the top lift and the lowerortop-liftreceiving surface 3|] for ready removal of the I lift whenreplacement thereof is desired.

The'edges of the top lift illustrated, slightly impregnated with wax orresin as in Fig. 3, or impregnated with wax 01' resin to a greaterextent as in Figs. 2 and 4, take edge inks and leather finishes assatisfactorily as or even better than The wax or resin l'l top lifts notso treated whereby a highly desirable top lift appearance is providedfor the shoe which remains throughout the life of the lift.

Furthermore, where the edges of the top lift are impregnated to asubstantial extent, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, such impregnatedportions exhibit little if any fraying when the lift has worn down tosuch portions.

The impregnation of the'top lifts by molten wax or resin may beaccomplished in the manner disclosed in my copending application, SerialNo. 158,017Qfiled August 9, 1937, in which said ap plication the methodof impregnation and articles resulting therefrom are claimed.

As disclosed in my said copending application, the impregnation of theflesh side and edges of the lift l2 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may beaccomplished by supporting the heel lift, flesh side downward, at apredetermined level in a bath of molten carnauba wax, cumar resin, or acombination of 66% montan wax and M rosin, maintained at a temperatureof about to C., and permitting said heel lift to remain in said bath for3 to 5 minutes.

The impregnation of the lift it on the flesh side 20 only and to aslight extent (Fig. 3) may be accomplished by supporting a piece ofleather stock in a molten wax or resin bath at the desired level andlater dieing or cutting out the lift 58 from the impregnated leatherstock.

The relatively deep impregnation of the lift 22 illustrated in Fig. 4may be accomplished by supporting a leather lift in a molten war: orresin bath for a sufficient time to accomplish the impregnation to thedesired extent or by impregnating a larger piece of leather stock anddieing or cutting out the lift therefrom.

In the lifts illustrated in the drawing it will be noted that the grainside of the lift is left in its original condition whereby the naturalleather finish or any other desired finish may be imparted to the grainside of the lift. In certain cases, however, it may be desired toimpregnate the lift from all the surfaces thereof including the grainside which may be accomplished by completely immersing the lift or apiece of leather stock in a molten Wax or resin bath until the desiredimpregnation has been accomplished.

Furthermore, as disclosed in my said copending application, Serial No.158,017, there may be incorporated in the molten wax, resin, or mixturethereof, a small percentage of a compatible dye for the purpose ofimparting a permanent color to the impregnated portion of the leather.By way of example, 3% of oil black dye may be associated with 97% montanwax.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

A. shoe heel construction comprising a wood heel. provided with areceiving socket, a post, a leather top lift secured to said post, saidpost being arranged to fit tightly into said receiving socket and tohold the lift with the flesh side thereof adjacent to the low r ortop-lift-receiving surface of said heel, the upper or flesh side and thesaid heel lift from the flesh side to a point short of the grain sidebeing impregnated with material from the group consisting of waxes andresins, and the lower or grain side of said heel lift being free fromsaid waxes and resins, ii hereby the grain side of the lift is preservedin its original condition, and the associated lift and post readily maybe removed by insertion of a tool, between the lift and the contiguousliftrcceiving surface of the heel.

JOHN H. MICGILL.

